September 1944

Western Europe

In the British 2nd Army area, poor weather conditions sharply curtail the airlift and support of the ground forces. In the 1st Airborne Corps area, the situation in the Arnhem sector grows worse. The Germans constrict the British perimeter west of the town and the small force at the north end of the bridge is still isolated. Weather conditions prevent the scheduled drop of the Polish 1st Parachute Brigade, and food and ammunition resupply falls into enemy hands. The Guards Armored Division of the XXX Corps, upon making contact with US 82d Airborne Division at Grave, joins with the Americans in an effort to take the bridges at Nijmegen in order that the advance to Arnhem can go on. Simultaneous attacks on the rail and highway bridges are halted by the enemy a little short of the objectives. The 82d Airborne Division repels light probing attacks against the Nijmegen-Groesbeek ridgeline and gains firm control of Cleve-Nijmegen highway.

In the XXX Corps area, the Guards Armored Division is engaging the enemy at Nijmegen. The US 101st Airborne Division maintains defensive positions at Eindhoven, Son, St Oedenrode, and Veghel, turning back a determined counterattack toward Son. Enemy resistance near Best collapses, but the village itself remains in German hands. Enemy bombers, about 100 strong, attack Eindhoven after nightfall, inflicting heavy casualties on civilians and the British troops within the town but none on the Americans stationed outside. This is the only time during the fall of 1944 that long-range enemy bombers attack on a large scale in the West.

In the XII Corps area, the 53rd Division, attacking from the Lommel bridgehead, reaches the Eindhoven-Turnhout road near Cuizel. Elements take Veldhoven and make contact with the 50th Division at Mereveldhoven.

In the VIII Corps area, the 11th Armoredd Division pushes northward to Leende and patrols to Heeze from the 3rd Division's bridgehead.

The VIII Corps successfully concludes the Brittany campaign as the 8th Division finishes clearing the Crozon Peninsula and captures Maj-Gen Hermann Bernhard Ramcke, the fortress commander of Brest.

In the XIX Corps area, TF Stokes reaches the inter-army boundary, where the 99th Infantry Battalion remains as a defense force. The rest of the task force reverts to its parent unit. The 2nd Armored Division drives through Gangelt toward Geilenkirchen, forcing a salient between the two German armies, but the enemy restores contact during counterattacks. The corps faces the West Wall and prepares to attack it on the 20th.

In the VII Corps area, CCA of the 3rd Armored Division gains the lower slopes of the Muensterbusch ridge with an attached battalion of the 16th Infantry, 1st Division. CCB and TF Hogan continue futile efforts to take Weissenberg Hill. The 47th Infantry, 9th Division, remains under light enemy attacks at Schevenhuette. The 39th Infantry, in the Lammersdorf corridor, pushes more than 2 miles toward Rollesbroich, where it is contained by the enemy, but continues to fight indecisively for Hill 554.

In the V Corps area, the 1st Battalion of the 12th Infantry, 4th Division, falls back a little under a counterattack southwestward along the Schnee Eifel highway. Later they regain their former positions and some ground beyond. The Germans also counterattack the flanks of the 5th Armored Division's Wallendorf bridgehead, but IX TAC planes go into action and force the enemy back in disorder. Nevertheless, it is decided to reduce bridgehead perimeter. CCB of the 5th Armored Division and a fresh battalion of the 112th Infantry, 28th Division, are to relieve CCR and the original battalion of the 112th in the reduced perimeter.

In the XX Corps area, CCR of the 7th Armored Division, after hard fighting at the edge of Sillegny, enters and finds the town vacated by the enemy, but is forced out again by extremely heavy fire and an enemy counterattack. CCB drives into the Seille loop and takes Longueville but is unable to take Cheminot, from which its positions are threatened. Massing forces at Coin-sur-Seille, enemy columns move forward to counterattack but are checked by air and artillery. The 3rd Cavalry Group, reinforced, is designated TF Polk and given the mission of protecting the Moselle River line between Grevenmacher and Thionville. A battalion of the 5th Division is alerted for an attack on Fort Driant, but for various reasons the attack is postponed from day to day.

In the XII Corps area, the 80th Division is continuing costly efforts to expand the Dieulouard bridgehead. A furious enemy counterattack drives TF Sebree from Pain de Sucre, but the enemy is driven back beyond Agincourt. The 137th Infantry, 35th Division, begins a drive through Forêt de Champenoux toward Amance Hill, a key feature, but is stopped at the Château-Salins-Nancy highway. CCA of the 4th Armored Division, which is spread thin in Arracourt area and has elements at Lunéville, checks a series of tank-infantry assaults aimed at Nancy. More than 40 enemy tanks are estimated to be knocked out in this action. German spearheads are blunted at Lézey, on the ridge west of Bezange-la-Petite, and at Rethicourt-la-Petite. The force from Lunéville rejoins CCA to assist in mopping up. Meanwhile, CCB begins an attack northeastward toward Saarbruecken, attempting to find a suitable route of advance. CCB, 6th Armored Division, relieves CCR, 4th Armored Division, at Lunéville.

The XV Corps gets advance elements across the Mortagne River. The 313th Infantry, now on the left flank of the 79th Division, crosses at Xermaménil, where rear-guard opposition is overcome. The 314th Infantry reaches the river at Gerberville but calls off an attack on the town after dark. The Germans withdraw during the night. CCD, French 2nd Armoredd Division, crosses near Vallois and reconnoiters to the Meurthe at Vathiménil, which it captures. The Germans order their thin line to withdraw behind the Meurthe during night since the Mortagne line has been pierced at various points.

A commanders conference is held at Lyon to plan for future operations. The French Army B is renamed the French 1st Army.

In the VI Corps area, the 45th Division, whose relief by the French 1st Division continues, prepares for a drive to the Moselle at Epinal on the left flank of corps.